Hamilton joins UNM research leadership team

Following a competitive search, Derek A. Hamilton has been named assistant vice president for research at The University of New Mexico effective Jan. 1, 2019.

“I am very pleased that Dr. Hamilton agreed to join UNM’s research leadership team,” said Gabriel López, vice president for research. “Research is integral to our mission at the University and we have many exciting opportunities ahead. With Hamilton’s expertise and experience, I am confident he will contribute greatly, and I look forward to working with him to advance our research agenda.”

Hamilton is a behavioral neuroscientist, specializing in the study of learning, memory and brain plasticity. His research examines the behavioral and neurobiological effects of exposure to alcohol, and his current work evaluates interventions to improve learning and memory deficits associated with exposure to alcohol during brain development. Hamilton’s work has been reported in 75 peer-reviewed publications and has been funded by the National Institutes of Health continuously since 2006.

Hamilton has served as acting chair of the UNM Psychology Department and head of UNM psychology’s cognition, brain, and behavior area (CBB).

Hamilton earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1996 and completed a Ph.D. in psychology from The University of New Mexico in 2003. He joined the UNM faculty in 2005 following a postdoctoral fellowship at the Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience in Alberta, Canada.

“Research at UNM contributes to society through the generation and dissemination of new knowledge and education of students in research and creative endeavors,” Hamilton said. “I look forward to contributing to the success and growth of UNM’s research mission and supporting the diverse research and creative efforts of our students, faculty and staff.”